An epic interview with the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer: From 'Cloud Atlas' to 'Jupiter Ascending'

I feel like a guy who has been hunting Bigfoot for a decade who finally, absolutely, completely has proven the existence of Bigfoot, and beyond that, was shocked to realize that Bigfoot is pretty much just a smart, funny couple of science-fiction nerds from Chicago.

After all, at the start of 2012, Andy and Lana Wachowski were a complete mystery to me. They are currently more high-profile and front and center than ever before as they prepare to try to open their most invigorating gamble so far, "Cloud Atlas," which they co-directed, co-wrote, and co-edited with "Run Lola Run" director Tom Tykwer. They raised the money independently and are releasing the film through Warner Bros. on October 26th in the US following a premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in early September and a secret screening at Fantastic Fest at the end of the month.

So right now, that mystery is not nearly as much of a mystery as it used to be, and in the course of that happening, I've gotten a chance to talk about the new film, their previous work, and even what we can expect from "Jupiter Ascending," their next science-fiction film. I have, in essence, come face to face with Bigfoot and gotten every answer I might have wanted and then some.

People should listen when these guys are excited about something they've made. I think "The Matrix" remains one of the great pure pop movies ever, a huge punch landed dead center, and I respect the way they built out the world they created in games, sequels, and animation. I've written about those movies and about "Speed Racer" and "V For Vendetta," and during all of that, they managed to stay fairly low-profile. The work speaks for itself, and the Wachowskis were just names on the screen to the vast majority of their audience.

Like anyone who is familiar with their work, I knew certain things about them. Obviously, there are the films which I've seen, and I've read many of their unproduced screenplays like "Carnivore" and "Plastic Man" and "Assassins," which was radically different on the page than it was onscreen, and even before they had one of their scripts produced, I just plain liked their writing. I read a lot of screenplays, and they've always been entertaining as a read, no matter what the subject. It's a case of voice being more important than the story being told.

On the personal side, I knew that they were intensely private and notoriously press-shy, and I had to guess that at least part of that was because of Lana Wachowski's gender transition over the last decade. Looking at how some of the press has handled any and every mention of the two of them during this process, I understood why they would make the decision to simply avoid doing press of any kind, and at the same time, furious that the actions of the worst of the press kept other people from just being able to have a conversation with the filmmakers about the work itself.

When I was at the Cannes festival this past May, I caught wind of some buyers-only screenings of "Cloud Atlas," and I did everything I could short of fist-fighting a security guard to get in to see the movie early. While I had to leave France disappointed, my efforts were not unnoticed, and in June, I was asked to come see "Cloud Atlas," which was pretty much locked as a cut, although not mixed at that point.

At that point, after seeing what they'd done, I redoubled my efforts and I sent a long, impassioned e-mail to the studio making my case. This is a big film, full of big ideas and big performances, and I felt like there was a real conversation to be had here if they were at all open to it. I didn't hear anything for months, and I was starting to suspect it would be business as usual this time around.

Then at the start of the festival, just after I touched down in Toronto, I got the official word. A general time and a specific place.

Finally. Bigfoot would pose for a photo, and all I had to do was show up with my camera.

A respected critic and commentator for fifteen years, Drew McWeeny helped create the online film community as "Moriarty" at Ain't It Cool News, and now proudly leads two budding Film Nerds in their ongoing movie education.

Drew, this is probably my favorite piece that I have read here. You captured something that you rarely see in big-budget filmmakers: passion. Can you imagine Ridley Scott talking excitedly about how he's attempting to break the traditional boundaries of cinema with Prometheus? I can't, and I love Ridley Scott. Cloud Atlas is now the movie I most want to see this fall.

Please do more in-depth pieces like this, and try heeding Lana's admonition. Too much focus is put on the business of movies -- look how John Carter "failed" before it even opened -- and not enough on the art. Keep reminding me why I fell in love with film in the first place.

Thanks for putting a wonderful cap on an otherwise crappy day. Please keep doing what you do so well.

I think it's okay to write about both -- in fact I think it's necessary since the business side dictates what happens with the art side...but just make sure your coverage of one outweighs the other. Which is something I think you do. So, good on you and please accept my "Atta boy" for this article.

Awesome interview. I always respected the fact that the Wachowskis tell their story how they wanna tell it and how they are always up to take risks with big canvas studio filmmaking. Can't wait to see Cloud Atlas.

Amazing conversation, Drew, and as frank and earnest as any interview I've read in a very long time. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. As a fan of both the team and the source, I am thrilled to see what they've done with it and fully expect to be floored.

Epic! Thank you, Drew. This has been one of the best interviews, I've ever read. I am from Germany and am both a Fan of Tom and the Ws for a f*cking long time now. I never understood all the hate against Speed Racer. I love it and I'm 46, damn it! We need more creative people like this trio infernale out there in this business. This is filmmaking, how it should be. Always.

I'm really looking forward to Cloud Atlas, my friend. Hopefully this will get some rewards. And if not in cash, than at least in award season. They deserve it. And Tom, too. I am more than a little proud as a German.

Again thank you so much. Keep up the good work and your Film Nerd 2.0 reviews. I enjoy them all.

Fantastic piece, Drew. I agree with Lana - keep fighting the good fight. Yours is one of the freshest, boldest, and most poignant voices in online film criticism and discussion today.I am looking forward to this film with probably more zeal than any film in recent memory, and it is the willingness to reach high, to drive the art form of cinema forward, and to challenge viewers on emotional, aesthetic and perhaps even spiritual levels that makes the Wachowski's one of the great mainstream* voices of today.I am so glad that they, and Tom Tykwer, are doing press for this film, and that we finally get to hear their passion and their joy for their work - even though I am largely a big believer in the work speaking for itself, it is refreshing to read/watch these interviews, and get a real answer/discussion rather than the typical Hollywood sound bite.

I hope it lives up to the hype that's starting to build up for it. Like James Cameron and Robert Zemeckis, The Wachowski Starship seem to be the film industry's technology pioneers and will use them to tell us a good story.Like most people, the first time I saw The Matrix, I was blown away by "bullet time", so I was very interested when they spoke of the evolutionary aspect of this effect that they will use for Jupiter Ascending.

What a great piece, Drew. I remember watching the featurettes on The Matrix back in the day, and the passion the Wachowskis had was infectious. I'm really looking forward to Cloud Atlas, but you just teased the hell out of me with that comment on the "evolutionary jump from bullet-time." Now I'm going to be disappointed if it doesn't happen!

What a spectacular piece, Drew. You have an inherent understanding of how to communicate experiences. This article wonderfully illustrates the publicity and interview process, not only from your perspective, but also from the Wachowskis, or at least the way they carried themselves. I think the mystique has fallen away. I can't speak for other movie fans, but I'm happy to add a love affair for the creators to my already entrenched love affair for their work.

Wonderful, wonderful piece. I was a huge fan of "Speed Racer," and though I found the "Matrix" sequels to be disappointing, there has always been a clear theme of "ambition" running through all of their work... and hat no doubt looks to continue with "Cloud Atlas," which I am absolutely dying to see.

Thanks for this, Drew. The passion that comes through in your writing is unmatched by any other "film analyst/critic" on the net, in my opinion.

Good in-depth write-up Drew. I was among the lucky crowd in the Princess of Wales Theatre at the film's world Premiere in Toronto last month. Seeing the long-form trailer this summer compelled me to catch this epic movie at the earliest opportunity. I had no idea the film's cast & crew would be there; it was a pleasant surprise for me, as the 10-minute ovation was for them. I'm looking fwd to seeing again when it's released on the 26th. I do think this is the W's "2001" and will be seen as a classic, innovative landmark film in future years if not right away. I don't know how they can follow this act... but they're incredibly creative, so who knows.

Of course a certain amount of tact would have to be used and I wouldn't advocate a “shock jock” approach or a blind siding but I call foul on these artists (who are obviously talented individuals which makes it even more egregious) using the mystique of inaccessibility shield themselves from what basically boils down to plagiarism. It is certainly not my intention to troll this thread (hell I’ll be seeing Cloud Atlas opening weekend not sure if that makes me a hypocrite) but I think there’s an interesting conversation to be had regarding what happens when artists (especially talented artists you like) conduct themselves questionably. This isn’t an example of a company ripping off an artist ala Marvel screwing Kirby, that narrative is unfortunately not that surprising, but artists of this caliber thieving or at the very least going out of their way to ignore a clear inspiration (that was also an active part of the production process they passed around issues of the comic on set!) is disheartening. I’m genuinely interested in hearing other opinions from posters and I apologize if my initial post came off as troll-ish but I do think this stuff matters and I find it disconcerting when others don’t see the act of one artist outright taking of ideas and aesthetics of another without any acknowledgement or compensation to be a problem. At the end of the day you expect this type of behavior from the stereotypical cut-throat executive but I would like to think that artists like the “Wachowski Starship” (admittedly hilarious / awesome nickname) are above this type of behavior. Am I missing something?

Sound's like "Seal's_Wet" has a case of troll's remorse. The Matrix was certainly inspired by Invisibles, (among other things) but calling it a "complete ripoff" is childish and fanboyish. When will someone ask Morrison why he ripped off Michael Moorcock's "Jerry Cornelius" books when he made Invisibles.

Amazing, Drew, really. I never say this kind of thing because seems so ass-kissy. But thank you. The former brothers are some of my very favorite filmmakers and, as everybody knows, access is rare. So it’s great to have this. Good job, man.

Good morning,i just read your article. From page 1 to 9 straight (with a quick jump to go read the newyorker article) and it gave me chills and emotions. That is a very rare feeling while reading interviews and review. Thanks for this. Also thanks for making me meet the"Wachowski Starship", i thought i knew who they were but i was wrong, i met them today and i would gladly be the red shirt of their crew after reading your article. Thanks you sir, and thanks the Wachowski Starship for us, for being so open and real, thanks. A thousand thanks.